Virtual Network User Identity Segmentation for Privacy and Law Enforcement Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for generating virtual network users to maintain privacy do not provide a reasonable means for state authorities to access the identity of users under pseudonym in cases of urgent need, such as crime prevention or investigation, potentially leading to social harm by depriving authorities of lawful access.
Innovation Solution
A dual transformation system is designed, where one system is user-controlled and another is associated with an independent authority, allowing restricted access to data related to network access for law enforcement, with separate registers and encryption to balance user anonymity and societal interests, ensuring only necessary data is accessible for investigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a virtual network user system is implemented to protect user identity, then user privacy and anonymity are improved, but state authorities lose the ability to access user identity for crime investigation
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides user data into two segments: pseudonymous activity data that remains anonymous, and identity data that is stored separately and can only be accessed by authorized authorities under specific conditions. This segmentation allows simultaneous protection of user privacy and preservation of lawful access capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary authority (state law enforcement) that acts as a mediator between users and the system. This intermediary has controlled access to identity information through a separate transformation system, enabling crime investigation while maintaining user anonymity for ordinary activities.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If complete anonymity is provided to virtual network users, then user safety and freedom from harassment are improved, but criminal activities cannot be traced and prosecution becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the level of anonymity based on the situation. For normal activities, complete anonymity is maintained to protect users from harassment. When criminal activities are suspected, the system can dynamically reveal identity information to authorities, thus adapting to different operational contexts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of identity visibility from a fixed state to a variable state. Identity information can be switched between hidden and revealed states based on authorization, allowing the system to maintain anonymity when needed while enabling traceability when necessary for crime prevention and prosecution.
3Productivity
If identity data is stored centrally for potential access by authorities, then crime investigation capability is improved, but user privacy and security are worsened due to potential unauthorized access
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments data storage and access rights, with identity data stored separately from activity data and accessible only through a dedicated authority system. This segmentation ensures that even if the main system is compromised, centralized identity data remains protected and accessible only to authorized personnel.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary authority system with separate transformation capabilities is introduced to control access to identity data. This intermediary layer provides an additional security mechanism that prevents unauthorized access while enabling legitimate law enforcement operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for generating a virtual network user that can be used, for data protection purposes, as a pseudonym by which a physical person or legal entity can gain access to the Internet and engage services that can be implemented via the network. The network user is defined by a freely specifiable combination of real and/or arbitrarily specifiable attributes. The input of these attributes into the network access device (PC) of the user activates a transformation system which facilitates the generation of the data flows that implement the virtual network user and that can be saved with the temporal sequence of the data flow in a storage device of the transformation system. An access system allocated to an independent authority is provided, which upon activation can initiate the readout of such data from a memory allocated to the storage device of the transformation system.